U.S. patent application number 11/418440 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-01 for shaker device for analyzer apparatus and analyzer comprising same.
This patent application is currently assigned to ROCHE MOLECULAR SYSTEMS, INC.. Invention is credited to Siegfried Muller, Ueli Stettler.
Application Number | 20070253284 11/418440 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36972833 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070253284 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Muller; Siegfried ; et
al. |
November 1, 2007 |
Shaker device for analyzer apparatus and analyzer comprising
same
Abstract
A shaker device for shaking liquids in a clinical chemistry
analyzer comprises an eccentric pin on a rotatable disk, a motor
for rotating the disk and a movable piece having a joint for
receiving the eccentric pin. The movable piece is mounted on a
first movable part of a first linear motion guide having a first
rail on which the first movable part can slide in a first direction
(Y-direction). The first rail of the first linear motion guide is
mounted on an intermediate plate which is mounted on a second
movable part of a second linear motion guide having a second rail
on which the second movable part can slide in a second direction
(X-direction) which is normal to the first direction.
Inventors: |
Muller; Siegfried;
(Meierskappel, CH) ; Stettler; Ueli; (Cham,
CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROCHE MOLECULAR SYSTEMS INC;PATENT LAW DEPARTMENT
1145 ATLANTIC AVENUE
ALAMEDA
CA
94501
US
|
Assignee: |
ROCHE MOLECULAR SYSTEMS,
INC.
Alameda
CA
|
Family ID: |
36972833 |
Appl. No.: |
11/418440 |
Filed: |
May 3, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
366/208 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 2035/00524
20130101; G01N 35/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
366/208 |
International
Class: |
B01F 11/00 20060101
B01F011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 28, 2006 |
EP |
06008848.1 |
Claims
1. A shaker device for shaking liquids in a clinical chemistry
analyzer, comprising: (a) an eccentric pin on a rotatable disk, (b)
a motor for rotating said disk, (c) a movable piece having a joint
for receiving said eccentric pin, (d) said movable piece being
mounted on a first movable part of a first linear motion guide
having a first rail on which said movable part can slide in a first
direction (Y-direction), and (e) said first rail of said first
linear motion guide being mounted on an intermediate plate which is
mounted on a second movable part of a second linear motion guide
having a second rail on which said second movable part can slide in
a second direction (X-direction) which is normal to said first
direction.
2. A shaker device according to claim 1, wherein said movable piece
is a tray adapted for receiving a liquid container or a holder of
liquid containers.
3. An automatic analyzer for analyzing biological samples, said
analyzer comprising a shaker device according to claim 1, wherein
said movable piece is a tray adapted for receiving a liquid
container or a holder of liquid containers.
4. An automatic analyzer for analyzing biological samples, said
analyzer comprising: (a) a rack for holding containers containing
liquids, said rack comprising (1) a frame having two or more
sections, each section being adapted for receiving a liquid
containing component, at least one of the sections of said frame
being adapted for receiving a first liquid containing component
which is adapted for being removably but tightly mechanically
connected to said frame, (2) at least one movable part adapted to
be removably coupled to a shaker device, the latter movable part
being adapted for receiving and holding a second liquid containing
component, and (b) a shaker device according to claim 1, wherein
said movable piece of the shaker device and said movable part of
said rack are adapted to be removably connected with each other.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention concerns a shaker device used as part of a
clinical chemistry analyzer.
[0003] The invention also concerns an automatic analyzer comprising
a shaker device.
[0004] Some of the liquids used in automatic clinical chemistry
analyzers require agitation during predetermined time intervals,
whereas other required liquids require no agitation at all. Liquids
which require agitation during predetermined time intervals are
e.g. solutions containing magnetic particles, which should be
uniformly distributed in the solution. Shaker devices suitable for
performing the required agitation are thus a necessary part of
automatic clinical chemistry analyzers.
[0005] 2. Description of Related Art
[0006] In prior art previously, it has been necessary to have
additional racks for containers which contain liquids that require
agitation and a shaker device connectable to such racks or,
alternatively, to selectively transport such containers to a shaker
station for agitating liquid containers and thereby the liquids
contained therein. A disadvantage of both approaches is that they
increase the complexity and the manufacturing cost of automatic
clinical chemistry analyzers. It is therefore desirable to have
racks and analyzers which do not have this disadvantage.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0007] A first aim of the invention is therefore to provide a
shaker device suitable for being used as part of a clinical
chemistry analyzer.
[0008] A second aim of the invention is to provide an analyzer
which comprises a shaker device connectable to a rack for liquid
containers and which makes it possible to eliminate the above
mentioned disadvantages.
[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, a shaker
device comprising an eccentric pin on a rotatable disk, a motor for
rotating the disk, a movable piece having a joint for receiving the
eccentric pin, wherein the movable piece is mounted on a first
movable part of a first linear motion guide having a first rail on
which the movable part may slide in a first direction
(Y-direction), and wherein the first rail of the first linear
motion guide is mounted on an intermediate plate which is mounted
on a second movable part of a second linear motion guide having a
second rail on which the second movable part can slide in a second
direction (X-direction) which is normal to said first
direction.
[0010] According to a second aspect of the invention an automatic
analyzer comprising a shaker device wherein the movable piece is a
tray adapted for receiving a liquid container or a holder of liquid
containers.
[0011] According to the third aspect of the invention an automatic
analyzer comprising a rack for holding containers containing
liquids comprising a frame having two or more sections, each
section being adapted for receiving a liquid containing component,
at least one of the sections of the frame being adapted for
receiving a first liquid containing component which is adapted for
being removably but tightly mechanically connected to said frame,
at least one movable part adapted to be removably coupled to a
shaker device, the latter movable part being adapted for receiving
and holding a second liquid containing component, and a shaker
device, wherein the movable piece of the shaker device and the
movable part of the rack are adapted to be removably connected with
each other.
[0012] The subject invention will now be described in terms of its
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
These embodiments are set forth to aid the understanding of the
invention, but are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the
claims therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment shaker
device according to the invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of the shaker device shown by
FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the shaker device of
FIG. 1 taken along a plane A-A in FIG. 2.
[0016] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the shaker device of
FIG. 1 taken along a plane B-B in FIG. 3.
[0017] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a rack according to the
invention.
[0018] FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of rack shown by FIG. 5,
movable part of rack and a casing containing several containers
which each contain a liquid to be agitated.
[0019] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the shaker device shown
by FIG. 1 with its coupling member connected to the movable part of
rack in FIG. 5.
[0020] FIG. 8 illustrates the use of a shaker device of the type
shown by FIGS. 1-4 in an analyzer comprising a rack of the type
described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0021] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a
shaker device according to the invention.
[0022] FIG. 10 shows a top plan view of the shaker device shown by
FIG. 9.
[0023] FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the shaker device of
FIG. 9 taken along a plane E-E in FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] An automatic clinical chemistry analyzer comprises in
general means for handling liquids like biological samples or
reagents and means for analyzing sample-reagent-mixtures or
mixtures comprising combinations of different samples with each
other, a different reagent with each other. A reagent can be e.g. a
liquid containing magnetic particles.
[0025] In the following description only those parts of an
automatic clinical chemistry analyzer are described which are
necessary to describe how liquid containers are agitated by means
of a shaker device according to the present invention, which is
part of the analyzer.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
Example of a First Embodiment of a Shaker Device According to the
Invention
[0026] FIGS. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of a shaker device
according to the invention.
[0027] As shown by FIGS. 1 to 4, the shaker device comprises a
rotatable disk 15 having an eccentric pin 16, a motor 12 for
rotating disk 15 and thereby eccentric pin 16, and a movable piece
18 having a joint 19 for receiving said eccentric pin 16.
[0028] Motor 12 is mounted on a support plate 11.
[0029] The angular position of motor 12 is controlled by means of
an encoder connected with motor 12 and is arranged in the housing
of motor 12. The encoder receives signals from an electro-optical
position detector which include various elements such as a light
barrier detector 14 and a coded disk 13. Control of the angular
position of motor 12 by means of the encoder and the position
detector makes it possible to position a liquid container carrier
and thereby liquid containers on that carrier in a reproducible
way, at a predetermined position, e.g. at the end of a shaking
operation of shaker device.
[0030] Movable piece 18 is mounted on a movable part 22 of a first
linear motion guide 21 having a rail 23 on which movable part 22
can slide in Y-direction shown in FIG. 1, and rail 23 is mounted on
an intermediate plate 24. Intermediate plate 24 is mounted on a
movable part 26 of a second linear motion guide 25 having a rail 27
on which movable part 26 can slide in X-direction shown in FIG. 1.
The X-direction is normal to the Y-direction. Rail 27 is mounted on
a support 28 which is part of or permanently connected to support
plate 11.
[0031] The intermediate plate is preferably made of a metal with
low specific mass, e.g. aluminum.
[0032] Linear motion guides 21 and 25 provide accurate linear
motion with low friction.
[0033] In a preferred embodiment linear motion guides 21 and 25
have sliding contact linear motion bearings.
[0034] In another preferred embodiment linear motion guides 21 and
25 have rolling element linear motion bearings, e.g. with balls as
rolling elements, wherein the balls recirculate as the movable part
of the linear motion guide moves along the rail thereof. Such
linear motion guides are commercially available from THK Co.
Ltd.
[0035] Movable piece 18 has a shape adapted for being removably
connected to a movable part 35 of a rack 31 described hereinafter
in Example 2.
[0036] When motor 12 rotates disk 15 and thereby eccentric pin 16,
movable piece 18 is driven by pin 16 in a circular motion which
results of a combination of displacements of movable piece 18 in X-
and Y-direction as movable part 22 of the first linear motion guide
21 moves along rail 23 and movable part 26 of the second linear
motion guide 25 moves along rail 27.
[0037] In preferred embodiments motor 12 rotates at a rotation
speed comprised e.g. between 500 and 1200 rpm.
[0038] According to the invention, the circular motion of movable
piece 18 is used for agitating liquids in containers as described
hereinafter in Examples 2 and 3.
Example 2
Example of a First Embodiment of Analyzer According to the
Invention
[0039] This embodiment of an analyzer comprises a rack 31 of the
type shown by FIGS. 5 and 6 and a shaker device of the type
described in Example 1.
[0040] As shown by FIGS. 5 and 6, rack 31 has a frame 32 and a
movable part 35. Frame 32 has at least one section 33 for holding a
first liquid containing component (not shown) which does not have
to be agitated and at least one section 34 for holding a second
liquid containing component (not shown) which has to be agitated.
The movable part 35 of the rack 31 is located in a section 34. The
shape and size of section 34 allows movement of movable part 35
within predetermined limits.
[0041] Rack 31 may be made of any suitable material, for instance a
polycarbonate (PC).
[0042] The first and the second liquid containing components may be
a single liquid container or a component comprising a casing 37
which contains one or more liquid containers 36 (see FIG. 6). A
component of the latter type is described in European Patent
Application EP 0564970 A2.
[0043] FIG. 6 shows a rack 31 having a section 34 that holds a
liquid containing a component of the type described in European
Patent Application EP 0564970 A2. Such a component comprises e.g. a
casing 37 wherein one or more containers 36 are lodged. Each of the
containers 36 contains a liquid to be agitated.
[0044] Movable part 35 has a shape adapted to be removably
connected with the movable piece 18 of the shaker device described
in Example 1.
[0045] FIG. 7 shows movable part 35 of rack 31 connected with
movable piece 18 of the shaker device.
[0046] When movable part 35 of rack 31 is connected with movable
piece 18 of the shaker device, movable part remains loosely
connected with rack 31. This loose connection is achieved by means
of pins 41, 42, 43 which cooperate with corresponding openings 38,
39 of removable part 35 shown in FIG. 6. Pins 41, 42, 43 are
inserted in suitable openings of frame 32.
[0047] FIG. 8 shows a portion of the analyzer including structure
elements on which rack 31 and the shaker device are mounted.
[0048] A support plate 44 includes guides 47 for receiving and
accurately positioning rack 31 in the analyzer.
[0049] Support plate 44 and support plate 11 are mounted on a
support wall 45 which in turn is mounted on a basis plate 46.
[0050] When motor 12 rotates disk 15 and thereby eccentric pin 16,
movable piece 18 is driven by pin 16 in a circular motion and
transmits this motion to movable part 35 of rack 31, and thereby
agitates liquids in containers 36 carried by a carrier 37 arranged
on movable part 35 of rack 31.
Example 3
Example of a Second Embodiment of an Analyzer According to the
Invention
[0051] The structure of this second analyzer embodiment is similar
to the structure of the first embodiment described above with
reference to FIGS. 1-8, but this second analyzer embodiment
comprises a second embodiment of a shaker device which is described
hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11.
[0052] The structure and operation of the shaker device shown by
FIGS. 9 to 11 is similar to the structure and operation of the
shaker device described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, but differs
therefrom in that it has a movable piece 51 which is itself adapted
for being used as carrier of liquid containers that have to be
agitated.
[0053] When motor 12 rotates disk 15 and thereby eccentric pin 16,
movable piece 18 is driven by pin 16 in a circular motion and
transmits this motion directly to liquid containers arranged on
movable piece 51, and thereby agitates liquids in those
containers.
[0054] While the foregoing invention has been described in some
detail for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be clear
to one skilled in the art from a reading of this disclosure that
various changes in form and detail can be made without departing
from the true scope of the invention. For example, all the
techniques and apparatus described above can be used in various
combinations. All publications, patents, patent applications,
and/or other documents cited in this application are incorporated
by reference in their entirety for all purposes to the same extent
as if each individual publication, patent, patent application,
and/or other document were individually indicated to be
incorporated by reference for all purposes.
* * * * *